Venus was once a planet similar to Earth, with a comparable atmosphere, water, and probably even life. However, due to the planet’s volcanic activity, a runaway greenhouse effect was triggered, which caused the planet’s temperatures to rise to extremely high levels, resulting in the loss of water.

The volcanic activity on Venus resulted in the formation of large igneous provinces (LIPs) due to tens of thousands of years of volcanic eruptions. Each volcanic event released carbon dioxide into the planet’s atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. The overlapping LIP events on Venus made the situation worse.

Unlike Earth, Venus lacks a plate tectonics system, which would have allowed for the carbon dioxide released by volcanic activity to be recycled into the mantle. Instead, the carbon dioxide accumulated in Venus’s atmosphere, exacerbating the runaway greenhouse effect.

This situation is in stark contrast to Earth, where the presence of a plate tectonics system and less severe volcanic events have allowed life to recover from mass extinctions. On Earth, carbon dioxide released by volcanic activity is eventually recycled by the planet’s geological processes, allowing life to thrive.

In conclusion, Venus was once a planet with similar conditions to Earth, but due to volcanic activity, a runaway greenhouse effect occurred, resulting in the loss of water and a hostile environment. The lack of plate tectonics on Venus, as well as overlapping volcanic events, contributed to the situation. This serves as a reminder of the importance of Earth’s geological processes in maintaining a habitable environment for life.